February 2017

commentary

The New 'Normal' in the East China Sea

China and Japan are engaged in a long-term test of wills over disputed waters and territory in the East China Sea. The Japanese government has acknowledged the challenge it faces and has begun to invest in infrastructure and personnel projects to address it.

Lyle J. Morris

commentary

Our NATO Partners Should Engage Trump in Brussels

At May's NATO summit in Brussels, President Trump will be looking for a symbolic victory rather than a confrontation with 27 other national leaders. Therefore, Europe needs to create a positive outcome for him in advance.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Hans Binnendijk

essay

What Are the Social Determinants of Health?

Health care alone can only go so far to promote health. Evidence suggests that where and how people live plays at least as big a role in how well and how long they live.

commentary

Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization

While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.

Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Sara Turner

commentary

Why China Should Feel Good About Taiwan

Chinese leaders should seek to engage in good-faith discussions with Taiwanese counterparts. Beijing should also recognize that Tsai's tentativeness about the new U.S. administration could change if cross-Strait military tensions escalate.

Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman

commentary

Acquisition in Transition

The DoD acquisition system is complex and ever-changing. It requires a trained and active workforce that has the support of Congress. Allowing some of the reforms to take place in a measured fashion would be a wise choice for the new administration and Congress.

Irv Blickstein

commentary

How Parents Can Find Out What They Need to Know in an Era of School Choice

To make an informed choice about schools, parents need to know about the quality of instruction, services, and the overall school climate. Schools need a better system of measuring and collecting data on performance, and a way to make it accessible to families.

Andrew McEachin, Laura S. Hamilton

commentary

Does the Court System Know as Much About Electronically Stored Information as Your Teenager? It Should.

Electronically stored information from smart appliances, fitness trackers, and other devices is making its way into the U.S. court system. Judges and lawyers need to better understand this evidence so they can challenge it or rule on its admissibility in court.

Duren Banks, Brian A. Jackson

commentary

UK Prisons Are in 'Crisis,' So What Can Be Done to Improve Performance?

Prisons in the UK are experiencing record numbers of suicides and other violent incidents, as well as staff shortages. Policymakers working on prison reform need more effective ways to measure the performance of prison programs.

Emma Disley

commentary

We Still Know Little About Financial Well-Being

There is a clear link between UK employees being concerned about their finances and negative health and well-being. The challenge for researchers is that financial well-being is hard to measure.

Marco Hafner, Christian Van Stolk

commentary

China's Opportunity—and Ours

A pivotal moment could be nearing for China's global role and its relationship with the United States. And America may be able to seize a historic opportunity to test Beijing's willingness to act as the co-sponsor of a stable world order.

Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr

commentary

Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers

Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.

Lindsay Daugherty

commentary

Should the Definition of Health Include a Measure of Tolerance?

Involving the medical community in helping to measure and increase tolerance could help make individuals and communities healthier. Since hate is both deadly and contagious, now is the time to engage the medical profession in eradicating it.

Robert H. Brook

commentary

History and Current Developments Regarding Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration

As Asia-Pacific countries develop policies to regulate maritime zones of jurisdiction, the importance of coast guards as instruments of state policy has been growing. Taiwan's Coast Guard is an increasingly effective force.

Lyle J. Morris

commentary

Body Cameras on Teachers Are Not the Answer to Classroom Management

Teachers at two schools in England are wearing body cameras as part of a pilot program aimed at stopping classroom disruption. How they use the cameras could be counter-productive and may even escalate disruptive situations.

Alex Sutherland